A community activist is leading the fight to save a Grade II listed Rickmansworth pub that has fallen into disrepair.
The Tree Pub on Uxbridge Road was vacated at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, before being bought by property investment company Pharmchem Investments Limited in January 2022. The listed building dates back to the late 16th or early 17th century.
Resident Mike Sims has sought to save the neglected building and has canvassed Three Rivers District Council (TRDC) for assistance.
Mike said: “This iconic historical building has been left to fall apart and the last straw for me was when the front wall fell down and was left in an unsafe state.”
Mike has laid out a number of points which he believes are necessary to save the pub. These include removing all overgrown vegetation from the building and front, side and rear; repairing The Tree sign to the side of the building; boarding up any broken or unstable windows from the interior to ensure the building is watertight; and ensuring all debris is taken off the site and the Heras fencing is removed from the perimeter.
Local residents Geg and Liz Oldfield, who lived opposite the pub for more than 30 years, said: “It’s been sad to see what has happened to it. We haven’t gone in for years and years; it would be wonderful if it would be able to be restored.”
A spokesperson for TRDC said: “The council has been in touch with the owner of The Tree public house, setting out a number of steps which we are requesting be taken by early June to improve the appearance of the property. The council understands these works are now being carried out and we will be revisiting once they are complete.”
The owner declined to comment.
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